Method and apparatus for marking the location of the armature to be used with a magnetic latch or the like



y 23, 1964 cs L M J. LOMBARD 3,142,505

METHOD AND APPARATUS 1 0R MAkKING THE LOCA N OF THE ARMATURE TO BE USED WITH A MAGNETIC LA H THE LIKE Filed Aug. 18, 1

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INVENTOR ATTORN EY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FQR MARKING THE LGCATHUN OF THE ARMATURE T9 BE USED WIiTl-i A MAGNETIC LATCH OR THE LIKE Georges Louis Marie Joseph Lombard, 62 Cours Richard Vitton, Lyon, France Filed Aug. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 132,476 Claims priority, application France Sept. 7, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 292251.5)

It is a difiicult matter to insert in position a magnetic latch since if it is to be fitted for instance on a cupboard, the operator cannot insert the armature at the same time as the magnet. In fact, the armature and the magnet should be fitted separately, since the necessity of opening the door shifts them away from each other. Consequently, the fitting is generally executed under poor conditions. Furthermore, the closing of the magnetic circuit is obtained only when the armature faces accurately the magnet and approximative fitting leads to a considerable reduction in the attraction exerted by the magnet and, consequently, the door does not close properly.

My invention has for its object to cut out this difliculty in the setting of a magnetic latch by providing an automatic centering of the armature with reference to the magnet.

To this end, I obtain in the molding of the plastic protective cover of the magnet, a stud in one with said cover and terminating With a pointed tip located at the geometrical center of a four-sided member constituted by the pole-pieces of the magnet. Said stud facing the location of the armature is thus perfectly centered with reference to the magnet and, furthermore, its length is such that it projects sufliciently beyond the side-post to which the magnet is secured, so that upon closing the moving part of the door, the tip of the stud is automatically centered with reference to the moving part which is to carry the armature and marks the location of the screw which is to secure the latter in position; said stud is then cut off after fitting of the corresponding armature of the screw.

Said stud may be molded in one together with the pro tective cover of the magnet or else I may position inside a mold a possibly fixed element which is readily disconnectable and is made of material diiferent from that of the cover said element being constituted for instance by a pin, tack or the like element provided for such purposes.

The armature is thus automatically located exactly in registry with the magnet of which it is to close the magnetic circuit. In the case of armatures which are secured by several screws, it is sufiicient to provide, at the moment of the molding, as many studs as there are screws in order to reach a similar result.

Said method of marking shows furthermore the ad vantage of allowing a considerable reduction in the time required for the fitting of the latch since the operator has no longer to proceed with a tedious manual locating and marking work in an attempt to obtaining a correct relative position for the two parts of the latch.

My invention will be better understood upon reading of the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing given by way of a mere exemplification and by no means in a limiting sense; in said drawing illustrating an embodiment of a magnetic closing system, of which the armature is secured through a single screw:

FIG. 1 shows the position of the parts during the marking procedure.

FIG. 2 shows the latch when positioned with the door closed.

In the drawing, 1 designates the protecting cover of the 3,142,505 Patented July 28, 1964 plastic material enclosing the magnet, which is secured by the screws 2 to the casing 3 of a door 4.

As illustrated, said cover of plastic material includes a suitably positioned stud 5 formed in one with the cover in the molding, said stud terminating with a pointed head 6 projecting slightly beyond the location of the plane to be occupied by the cooperating surface of the door when closed.

When the door is actually closed, the pointed head 6 of the stud 5 engages slightly the material forming the door so as to mark therein the location to be occupied by the screws 6 securing the armature 8 in position. Said armature is thus automatically positioned without it being necessary to proceed with any ditiicult groping which does not always lead to a satisfactory result.

To finish with, it is suflicient to break off the stud which is now useless and objectionable, this being done by cutting off along the line 0-0.

The method illustrated is applicable to the case of an armature secured through a single screw. In the case of armatures which are secured by two or more screws, the same marking method may obviously be resorted to and it is sufficient to provide in this case a number of marking studs positioned suitably inside the mold in which is formed the cover enclosing the magnet.

My invention is applicable as well to the insertion of magnetic closures and also to the marking of any other element or article in the hardware trade.

Lastly and more generally, my invention is by no means limited to the sole embodiment disclosed hereinabove by way of example and it includes all the modifications thereof falling within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for installing a magnetic latch of the type having a magnet and armature, said apparatus comprising: a cover enclosing said magnet adapted for being supported in fixed position on a first member, a point shape stud integral with said cover and projecting therefrom, said stud projecting a predetermined distance from said cover to be eifective to provide a mark in a second member when the latter is substantially in a closed position with respect to the first member, and means for supporting said armature from said second member in a centrally located position with respect to said mark to provide exact alignment between the magnet and armature when the first and second members are in closed position, said stud being adapted for being broken off from said cover subsequent to the making of said mark to permit closure of said members.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said magnet has aligned pole pieces and is supported Within said cover, such that the stud lies along a line transverse with respect to said magnet midway between said pole pieces.

3. For determining the location of an armature with respect to a magnet to permit the armature and magnet to cooperate in a swinging door installation: a cover enclosing said magnet and enabling attachment of said magnet in said installation and a point shape member integral with said cover, but adapted for being broken therefrom, said member projecting beyond said cover for making a mark with said swinging door in closed position to establish the location at which the armature is to be positioned.

4. A method of installing a magnetic latch of the type having a magnet and an armature respectively from first and second relatively movable members, said method comprising: forming a plastic cover for supporting said magnet, installing the cover and the magnet therein onto said first member, forming integral with said plastic cover a point shaped stud extending therefrom, said stud projecting from said cover a pre-established distance such that the stud initially makes a mark in the second memher when the latter is substantially in a desired closed position with respect to the first member, breaking oif said stud subsequent to the making of said mark and installing said armature centrally with respect to said mark in said second member whereby said magnet and armature are aligned when said members are in the closed position.

5. A method of installing a magnet from a first fixed member and an armature from a second swingable member such that the magnet and armature will cooperate to close said members and retain the same in closed position, said method comprising: forming a plastic cover and a point shaped stud integral with said cover and projecting therefrom, supporting a magnet in said cover transversely With respect to said stud such that the stud lies on a line midway between the magnetic poles of said magnet, forming said stud from said cover to project a pre-established distance from the cover such that said stud initially makes a mark in the second member when the latter is swung to a substantially closed position, breaking off said stud subsequent to the making of said mark and installing said armature centrally with respect to said mark in said second member whereby said magnet and armature are aligned when said members are in the closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,609,221 Schultz Sept. 2, 1952 2,694,592 Borchers et a1. Nov. 16, 1954 2,962,318 Teetor Nov. 29, 1960 3,003,802 Wilson Oct. 10, 1961 

3. FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF AN ARMATURE WITH RESPECT TO A MAGNET TO PERMIT THE ARMATURE AND MAGNET TO COOPERATE IN A SWINGING DOOR INSTALLATION: A COVER ENCLOSING SAID MAGNET AND ENABLING ATTACHMENT OF SAID MAGNET IN SAID INSTALLATION AND A POINT SHAPE MEMBER INTEGRAL WITH SAID COVER, BUT ADAPTED FOR BEING BROKEN THEREFROM, SAID MEMBER PROJECTING BEYOND SAID COVER FOR MAKING A MARK WITH SAID SWINGING DOOR IN CLOSED POSITION TO ESTABLISH THE LOCATION AT WHICH THE ARMATURE IS TO BE POSITIONED. 